The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-11

our history Is apt " Uc sad
dened by the thought that the
eloquence and wisdom and services of
our greatest statesmen are exhibited,
not in united efforts and harmonious CO.
operation, but in conflict among them
selves, and victories of one party over
another. But when supreme moment
comes the fact is revealed that what
seems to be fierce combat among them
selves is but the ardent strivings of each
for the honor, perpetuity, and glory OF
common country.
Mr.. Lamar then gave sketch of Mr..
Calhou's course from the time of the
adjustment of the tariff question to
1874. The various questions growing
out of the removal of the deposits, re-
newal of the charter of the national
bank, internal Improvements, public
lands, assumption of State debts, the
tariff of 1S45, the abolition of the veto
power and the annexation of Texas, etc,
then came under review. He dwelt
somewhat on Mr.. Calhoun's course in
reference to the executive patronage,
civil service and removal from office.
He said:
THE ABUSES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
On the 9th of February, 1885, he
made report on the extent of Govern
ment patronage which started the coun-
try by its revelations of the enormous
extent to which the abuses of the sys-
tenn had grown, and the degenerating
influences it was exercising alike upon
the Government and the character of
the people. Animated and acrimonious
debates arose in the Senate upon the
facts stated in the report. In mainte-
nance of the positions assumed therein
Mr.. Calhoun made a speech which is
perhaps as applicable to the present
times as it was to those in which it was
delivered. After showing how alarm
ingly the system has grown, he proceed
ed to demonstrate the causes which pro-
duced it and which gave to its growth
and its dangerous influences. AT the
head of these causes he placed ''the
practice so greatly extended, if not for
the first time introduced, of removing
from Office persons well qualified and
who had faithfully performed their duty
in order to fill the places with those who
were recommended ON the ground that
they belonged to the party IN power"
In speaking of the extent of its growth
he stated that Washington in his eight
years of services had made but nine
removals; Madison but five, Monroe
but ten, and that he, whilst Secretary of
War for more than seven years, removed
but two, and that for cause.
He said: $50 long as offices were con-
sidered as public trusts, to be conferred
on the honest, the faithful and capable,
for the common good, and not for the
benefit of gain OF the incumbent or his
party and so long as it was the prac-
tice of the Government to continue in
Office those who faithfully performed
their duties, its patronage, in point of
fact, was limited to the mere power of
nominating to accidental vacancies or
to newly-created offices, and could, of
course, exercise but a moderate inhu-
ence, either over the body of the com
munity, or of the office holders them
selves; and when the practice was re-
versed, when offices instead of being
considered as public trusts, to be con-
ferred on the deserving, were regarded
as the spoils of victory, to be bestowed
as rewards for partisan services without
respect to merit; when it came to be
understood that all who held office, held
by the tenure of partisan zeal and party
service, it is easy to see that the certain,
direct and inevitable tendency of such a
state of things is to convert the entire
body of those in Office into corrupt and
supple instruments of power, and to raise
up host of hungry greedy and sub
servient partisans, ready for any service,
however base and corrupt. Were pre-
MUM offered for the beet means of
extending to the utmost the power of
patronage; to destroy love of country
| to encourage vice and discourage virtue
and, in word, to prepare for the sub
version of liberty and the establishment
of despotism, no scheme more perfect
could be devised; and such must be the
tendency of the practice, with whatever
intention adopted, or to whatever extent
pursued"
PARTY PLEDGES TO THE ADMINIsTRA-
TION.
He then called attention to the
pledges of the party supporting the
present Administration to put stop to
| this enormous abuse, and he asked
"What justification has been offered for
so gross violation of their pledges p
|
of the Administration, he made the fol
lowing indignant reply: "No justifica-
tion is even attempted-the delinquency
is acknowledged, and the only effort
which the Senator from Missouri has
made to defend his own conduct and
| that of the Administration in adopting
the practice which he then denounced
is on the principle of retaliation. He
saws that he has been fourteen years 8
member of the Senate, and that during
the first seven no friend of his had re
ceived the favor of the Government
and contends that it became necessary
to dismiss those in Office to make room
| for others who had been for so long time
/ beyond the circle of Executive favor
| What" Mr.. Calhoun asked, sis the
principle, when correctly understood
on which this defense rests? 1t assumes
that retaliation is a principle in its ma
ture so sacred that it justifies the breach
of plighted faith and the subversion oi
principles, the observance of which had
been declared to be essential to the lib
erty of the country. The avowsl oi
such a principle may be justified at this
time by interested partisans; but &
more impartial tribunal will regard i
in a far different light, and pronounce
that sentence which violated faith anc
broken pledges deserve.
consider it." said Mr.. Calhoun, Gas al
evidence of that deep degeneracy which
peryades the downfall of a republic
when those elevated to power forget the
promises on which they were elevated
the certain effect of which is to make al
| impression on the public mind that al
is Juggling and trickery in politics, anc
to create an indifference to politica
strugges highly favorable to the growth
of despotic power"
Continuing, Mr.. Lamar said:
i / am proud to say, fellow-citizens, tina
it has been my good fortune to be as
sociated with one against whose admin
istration the only criticism which ha
been pronounced is his sacred regart
for similar promises, and the unconquer
able intrepidity with which he stand
, by them.
Mr.. Lamar also paid high compli
ment to Senator Butler, of South Caro-
lima, for the ability, eloquence and firm
ness with which he had sustained thes
doctrines of Calhoun, and also to Soutl
Carolina for her recent resolutions o
the subject of civil seiyice reform, an
her support of the Presidents action o.
the subject
Il He then referred TO Mr.. Calhoun
} unanimous return by the Legislature Q
South Carolina to the Senate in 1916, i
, response to general desire all over tn
, country that he should exert his infu
, ence in the councils of the nation t
/ avert war growing out of the Orego
) imbroglio. He speaks of Calhoun
' speech on that question as masterpiec
{ of political wisdom. sagacity and rar
: eloquence, and concludes by saying n
e one can read his utterances on that o,